Clientless VPN Proxy Auto-Configuration PAC File Extension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clientless VPN solutions involve complex and error-prone 'HTML rewrite' or 'HTTP rewrite' processes, which complicate secure connections between user devices and private networks, leading to instability and errors.
Innovation Solution
A DNS-based clientless VPN method that provisions a web browser with a proxy auto-configuration file and web browser extension to establish a secure connection without content rewrite operations, using a security gateway to redirect web traffic and manage VPN connections automatically, eliminating the need for user intervention and minimizing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HTML rewrite or HTTP rewrite is performed by the security gateway, then transparency of the security gateway is maintained, but the process becomes complicated and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the content rewriting function from the security gateway and relocates it to the client device. The gateway now only performs proxy authentication and connection management, while the client device's web browser or extension handles HTML/HTTP rewriting locally. This separation eliminates the complexity and errors associated with gateway-based rewriting while maintaining transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a PAC (Proxy Auto-Configuration) file and web browser extension as intermediaries between the user device and the security gateway. These intermediaries handle the complex rewriting operations locally, acting as a mediator that shields the gateway from complexity while maintaining the transparent proxy functionality.
2Ease of operation
If manual proxy configuration is required, then user control is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by providing a PAC file that automatically configures the web browser's proxy settings. When the PAC file is loaded, it enables the browser to automatically redirect traffic through the security gateway without requiring manual user configuration. The system serves itself by using the gateway's URL (obtained through DNS resolution) to automatically populate the proxy configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the PAC file with the gateway's URL before the user needs to access private network resources. The DNS resolution and PAC file deployment happen in advance, so when the user needs VPN access, the proxy configuration is already in place and operational.
Data Source
AI summary
A security gateway security gateway provisions a web browser hosted on a user device with a proxy auto-configuration file configured to automatically redirect the web browser to the security gateway as a proxy server for clientless virtual private network (VPN) operation when the web browser browses any uniform resource locator including a particular domain name that encompasses a private network. Upon receiving from the web browser over a public network a request to access a private resource on the private network, the security gateway establishes a secure public connection to the web browser, establishes a private connection to the private resource, and associate the private connection with the secure public connection to form a clientless VPN connection between the web browser and the private resource. The security gateway forwards content between the private resource and the web browser over the clientless VPN connection without performing any content rewrite operations.